Folding hopscotch board



Ju 30, 1964 .1. E. NICHOLSON FOLDING HOPSCOTCH BOARD Filed Sept. 20,1961 IIYVENTOR. erryENwholson BY v warw ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,139,281 FOLDING HOPSCQTCH BOARD Jerry E. Nicholson, Box 1, NorthLawrence, Ohio Filed Sept. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 139,537 2 Claims. (Cl.273-1) The invention relates to gameboards and more particularly to afolding gameboard for playing the game of hopscotch and the like.

Hopscotch is a game played by small children in which a player tosses ablock, flat pebble or similar object from one numbered area orcompartment to another of a figure drawn or traced on the ground, andafter each toss hops on one foot through the panels or compartments ofthe figure to get the object and back again.

When weather conditions permit, the game is usually played out-of-doors.Originally, the figure was traced or scotched upon the ground with asharp stick, hence the name of the game. The game is more generallyplayed now, particularly in urban communities, by drawing the figurewith chalk or crayon upon a sidewalk or drive.

This makes an unsightly appearance and such chalk or crayon marks aredifficult to remove, and in inclement weather, children frequently playthe game indoors, drawing the figure upon carpet, lineoleum or otherfloor coverings with chalk or crayon. Not only does this result in anunsightly and disorderly appearance of the interior of the home, butfrequently causes damage to carpets or other floor coverings.

In an attempt to overcome these disadvantages and undesirableconditions, portable hopscotcli boards have been provided, formed of aflat sheet of substantially rigid material having the hopscotch figure:and numbers imprinted thereon.

Such devices, however, are not practical owing to the fact that, due totheir size and shape, they present a storage problem when not in use,for which reason such portable, one-piece hopscotch boards have not comeinto general use.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide ahopscotch board which overcomes the difliculties and disadvantages ofprior practice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hopscotch boardcomprising a plurality of sections or panels formed of linoleum or thelike, hingedly connected together so that they may be folded compactlytogether in fiat form when not in use so as to occupy a minimum of spaceupon a shelf or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding hopscotchboard of the character referred to, in which the two endmost hingedpanels are of somewhat greater height than the remaining panels, and areprovided with hand holes, so that the board may be folded flat andcarried in the manner of a briefcase.

The above objects, together with others which Will be apparent from thedrawing and following description, or which may be later referred to,may be attained by constructing the improved folding hopscotch board inthe manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In general terms, the invention may be briefly described as comprising afolding gameboard for playing hopscotch, and the like. The board isformed of a plurality of rectangular panels formed of linoleum, or othersuitable sheet material, the panels being hingedly connected together atadjacent edges, as by strips of pliable fabric material attached toadjoining edge portions of the panels by adhesive or the like.

The usual figure is outlined upon the panels with ink or paint of acontrasting color, dividing the board into the usual areas orcompartments, each of which is designated by a number which may bestencilled or printed thereon with paint.

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The board may comprise four intermediate panels of elongated rectangularshape, each of which is of a length substantially twice its width, andtwo end panels, each of which is only slightly more than half the sizeof the intermediate panels.

The two end panels are so arranged that, when the board is folded, thefree ends thereof will extend slightly beyond the adjacent hinged edgesof the intermediate panels. Hand holes are formed in these extensions ofthe end panels, so that the folded board may be carried in one hand inthe manner of a briefcase.

A spaced pair of slits is cut into the extension of each end panel,forming a strap under which a small disc, such as a poker chip, may beinserted. This disc is adapted to be used as the playing piece or objectwhich is tossed upon different areas or compartments of the board inplaying hopscotch.

Having thus briefly described the invention, reference is now made tothe accompanying drawing, showing a preferred embodiment of theinvention, in which;

FIG. 1 is a plan View of the folding hopscotch board, showing the samein opened or extended position;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the board in folded position; and,

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the folded board.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the drawing, similar reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout.

The folding hopscotch board is formed of a plurality of panels ofsuitable sheet material, such as linoleum, or the like. As best shown inFIG. 1, there are four intermediate panels of the same size and shapeindicated by the numerals 11, 12, 13 and 14. Each of these intermediatepanels is of rectangular shape and of a length substantially twice itswidth.

The panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 are placed together side by side, as shownin FIG. 1, so that each panel is disposed transversely of the major axisof the complete board.

Two similar end panels 15 and 16 are provided, each of which forms oneend of the complete board. Each end panel is preferably slightly morethan half the size of an intermediate panel.

As shown in the drawing, the end panels 15 and 16 are located centrallyof the longitudinal median line of the complete board. Each of the endpanels has a square area or compartment outlined thereon, as indicatedat 17, and an outwardly disposed, integral extension 18.

A transversely disposed slot 19 is formed in the extension 18 of eachend panel, providing a hand hole for carrying the board in foldedcondition, as will be later described. For the purpose of holding asmall disc 20, such as a poker chip, a strap 21 may be provided uponeach extension 18.

In cases where the panels forming the folding board are formed ofpliable material, such as linoleum, each strap 21 may be formed bycutting two spaced parallel slots in the material, as indicated at 22.

The several panels are hingedly connected together at adjacent edges bymeans of hinges 23, formed of strips of fabric or other suitable pliablematerial, attached to the back surfaces of the panels by suitableadhesive or the like.

The usual figure is outlined upon the board, and as shown, each panel 11and 14 may be divided into two square areas or compartments, outlined asat 24 with paint or ink of suitable color, and the two center panels 12and 13 may be divided into four triangular areas or compartments asindicated at 2 4.

The several areas or compartments thus formed are designated by largenumerals from 1-10, as common in hopscotch games. These numerals areindicated at 25 and may be stencilled or otherwise imprinted in therespective areas or compartments with ink or paint of desired color.

When it is desired to use the board for playing, it is opened out flat,as shown in FIG. 1, and laid upon a floor or other horizontal surface.When not in use, the board may be folded as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,occupying a minimum of space for storage upon a shelf or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the board is folded, the end panels and16 will be upon the outside and the extensions 18 thereon will extendabove the top edges of the folded panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 so that thefolded board may be picked up and carried in the manner of a briefcaseby inserting the hand through the hand holes 19 which provide handlesfor carrying the board.

From the above it will be obvious that a simple, inexpensive andpractical folding hopscotch board is provided, which may be easily andreadily folded compactly to occupy a minimum of space for storage andwhich is adapted when folded to be carried in the manner of a briefcase.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because suchwords are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to bebroadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated anddescribed herein are by Way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, theoperation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and theadvantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and usefulconstruction, and reasonable mechanical eqivalents thereof obvious tothose skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A folding gameboard for playing hopscotch and the likecomprising a single row of fiat panels of sheet material, hinge meansconnecting the panels together at their adjoining edges, said boardbeing adapted to present a continuous playing surface when open, and tofold substantially fiat upon itself when collapsed, the free ends of theflat panels of sheet material at opposite ends of the board extendingbeyond the edges of the remaining panels when the board is folded, therebeing hand holes formed in said extending ends, providing means forcarrying the folded board, whereby the folded flat panels of sheetmaterial form a briefcase-like device.

2. A folding gameboard for playing hopscotch and the like comprising asingle row of flat panels of sheet material, hinge means connecting thepanels together at their adjoining edges, said board being adapted topresent a continuous playing surface when open, and to foldsubstantially fiat upon itself when collapsed, the fiat panels of sheetmaterial at opposite ends of the board being of less width than theremainder of the board and the free ends thereof extending beyond theedges of the remaining panels when the board isfolded, there being handholes formed in said extending ends, providing means for carrying thefolded board, whereby the folded flat panels of sheet material form abriefcase-like device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.163,957 Meyer July 17, 1951 1,307,437 Curry June 24, 1919 1,336,954Gillies Apr. 13, 1920 2,017,536 Hase et al. Oct. 15, 1935 2,284,242Zimmerman May 26, 1942 3,008,718 Berliner Nov. 14, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS994,883 France Aug. 14, 1951

1. A FOLDING GAMEBOARD FOR PLAYING HOPSCOTCH AND THE LIKE COMPRISING ASINGLE ROW OF FLAT PANELS OF SHEET MATERIAL, HINGE MEANS CONNECTING THEPANELS TOGETHER AT THEIR ADJOINING EDGES, SAID BOARD BEING ADAPTED TOPRESENT A CONTINUOUS PLAYING SURFACE WHEN OPEN, AND TO FOLDSUBSTANTIALLY FLAT UPON ITSELF WHEN COLLAPSED, THE FREE ENDS OF THE FLATPANELS OF SHEET MATERIAL AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE BOARD EXTENDING BEYONDTHE EDGES OF THE REMAINING PANELS WHEN THE BOARD IS FOLDED, THERE BEINGHAND HOLES FORMED IN SAID EXTENDING ENDS, PROVIDING MEANS FOR CARRYINGTHE